Mac reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and extracted a folded piece of paper. “That was one thing I had the office double-check. With the time difference, it took a little longer to get an official copy of the marriage license.”
She took the paper and unfolded it, scanning it quickly, then reread more slowly. Her real name, Priscilla Ann Makin, and signature scrawled across the bottom silenced the misgivings in her mind. Luc’s slash of a signature underneath his own name left no doubt this man was her husband. “We really did get married.” She read the location again. “In Las Vegas, the day before the shooting.”
Mac nodded. “And we got the results of a background check on Luc. He is who he says he is.”
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence after confirming it in black and white.” Luc crossed his arms over his chest.
Priscilla wouldn’t apologize for Mac and the marshals doing their job, not after all that had happened over the past twenty-four hours. “They have to check, to keep me and other witnesses safe.”
“I know.” Luc blew out a disgusted breath, as if the fight had drained out of him like the water swirling down the sink. “I think I’ll go read for a bit, then hit the hay early. I’m still pretty wiped out.”
Priscilla refused to make any attempt to stop him. When he had gone, she sighed. “I’m glad he checked out, given that we’re married and all, but I still don’t like the coincidence of his showing up and my life turning upside down. I liked my last job. I had friends. Things had been calm even before the FBI had captured Culvert eighteen months ago.”
“It does seem a bit improbable to have Culvert escape custody and Luc run into you in close proximity, but from what we’ve been able to determine, Luc’s story checks out.” Mac nodded to the wedding license she held in her hand. “I’m going to need to hold on to that until things are resolved.”
“Of course.” She handed it back, sadness creeping over her at yet another example of her unorthodox life. She couldn’t keep anything in her old name, anything that would tie her to her old life. If she still had that life, she’d be married and probably have a few kids underfoot by now. Tears welled and she blinked rapidly to clear her vision as well as to strengthen her resolve. She’d cried enough tears over what wasn’t to be, and she wasn’t going to shed any more. “I think I’ll go to my room too. It’s been an eventful day.”
“That’s probably a good idea. I’ll be back to see you tomorrow afternoon.”
Priscilla paused in the kitchen doorway. “You’re not staying?”
Mac shook his head. “I’ve got another case that we’re preparing for trial. I have to be in the office in the morning for a meeting. Don’t worry—Laura, Myers and Aldrich will remain on the premises. There are also marshals monitoring the perimeter of the house. You’ll be well covered.”
“That’s what we thought at the last safe house.” Priscilla shuddered at the memory of the fire exploding in the living room and their narrow escape through the crawl space.
“Try to get some sleep.” Mac didn’t even try to contradict her, merely patted her shoulder before she walked down the hallway to the bedroom next to Luc’s.
Priscilla couldn’t help but wonder if she would even live long enough to find out if she liked being married or not.
TEN
Luc punched down his pillow but the readjustment of its shape did little to lull him to sleep. The bedside digital clock clicked over to 11:35. The emotional roller coaster he’d been on since reconnecting with Priscilla had drained him. He’d soared hearing Priscilla describe part of their wedding. Then his hopes plummeted to learn just how limited her recall was. Her distrust of his motives also hit him in the gut, although his mind told him she was right to wonder if the events of the past two days had any connection to him.
He rolled onto his back and stared into the darkness. How would they ever be able to discuss ending a marriage that never really got started with a houseful of marshals and a killer on the loose?
There would be no more sleep for a while. He might as well get up. Maybe playing cards with Aldrich and Myers would burn off some of this energy and help him wind down enough to fall asleep. Luc tossed back the bedding, then grabbed the clothes he’d strewn over the back of the chair and dressed.